23 January, 2008
What's on - Demolition begins on Lord Square!
DEMOLITION at The Mall Blackburn started today with Tony Livesey BBC Radio Lancashire breakfast presenter taking the helm of the 100 ton 'muncher' machine first thing this morning in a live broadcast which saw him break sections of the previous 'Flying Haggis' down to the ground. Following this Blackburn Mayor, Coun Maureen McGarvey, and Councillor Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration for Blackburn with Darwen Council, also took the hot seat in the industrial muncher machine - reducing further sections of the tired 1970's shopping centre to rubble!
The intensive demolition programme will see the Lord Square section of the shopping centre demolished in approximately 15 weeks. This includes the former TJ Hughes building. The rubble, mainly concrete and brick will be crushed and used again on site, forming a crucial part of the foundation and piling process.
The £66 million redevelopment will see the town's favourite shopping centre undergo a significant extension and refurbishment - creating an additional 250m sq ft of retail space, 20 new shops and the first continental style market in the UK. It will create shopping across three levels with a spectacular, three storey glazed atrium as the Centre's focal hub.
Meanwhile, the existing Mall will be extensively refurbished and upgraded to include new Mall toilets, management suite and other distinctive Mall brand touch-points such as Mall TV and Mall Whats on Boards - ensuring a seamless link between the existing and new development, once all work is complete in spring 2010. The new scheme, which has been drawn up in close association with Blackburn with Darwen Council, will see overall retail space increase to a new total of 639,000 sq the town), with the middle and upper levels being the principal retail areas. Over 200 additional car parking spaces have been added at the top of the scheme.
A cluster of high street retailers have already signed up for the development which is set to change the face of retail in the town, with two thirds of total retail space already pre-let.
Commenting on the start of demolition, Coun Maureen McGarvey said: I'm delighted to be part of today's events which will make way for a better, brighter shopping centre for the town'
High street giant, Primark, is the anchor tenant in the scheme, taking a state of the art, 50,000 sq ft. store. New Look will provide a further boost to the Centre's fashion offer, upsizing their existing store, with a 8,500 sq ft. unit spread across two levels. WHSmith will also increase its current Mall presence, with a 6,030 sq ft. store in the new development.
Said Councillor Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: 'I am delighted that work is now beginning on the new mall which will provide a major shopping boost for the borough, making it the retail centre of East Lancashire. I am sure that shoppers and visitors will be thrilled when they see the final result and will benefit from the wide range of retailers attracted to the town'
Concludes Loraine Jones, general manager of the Mall Blackburn: We are delighted that work has started in earnest and members of the public can visibly see the shopping centre is changing. Once complete, the development will change the face of retail in the town, offering the very best in fashion and food, thanks to the arrival of popular high street names and a new continental style market, a first for the town. Exciting times are ahead for the Mall Blackburn
The development is due for completion in Spring 2010.
Back to What's On
